SAFETY ISSUES WHEN MONITORING CO2 STORAGE IN THE PRINOS AREA, GREECE

 Η γεωλογική αποθήκευση του CO2 σε γεωλογικές δομές κάτω από την επιφάνεια της γης μπορεί να μετριάσει την υπερθέρμανση του πλανήτη. Μια ασφαλής αποθήκευση του CO2 μπορεί να εξασφαλιστεί μέσω της ανάπτυξης ολοκληρωμένων προγραμμάτων παρακολούθησης που αποτρέπουν οποιαδήποτε πιθανή διαρροή CO2. Η εργασία αυτή παρουσιάζει διάφορες στρατηγικές παρακολούθησης της υπόγειας μετακίνησης του CO2 στον ταμιευτήρα του Πρίνου, στη Βόρεια Ελλάδα, τα αποτελέσματα προσομοίωσης μιας διαρροής CO2 μέσω μιας γεώτρησης, και μια εκτίμηση των περιβαλλοντικών κινδύνων που σχετίζονται με πιθανή υποθαλάσσια διαρροή CO2 ή πετρελαίου. Μετά από μόλις 13.7 χρόνια, από την αρχή της έγχυσης, η διαρροή του CO2 φθάνει στον πυθμένα με τη μορφή αερίου. Για την περιβαλλοντική αξιολόγηση έχουμε  ένα μοντέλο, με τη χρήση του λογισμικού ArcGIS, που βασίζεται στη χρήση των δεδομένων σχετικά με τις ταχύτητες των ανέμων και των ρευμάτων που συναντώνται στην περιοχή. Επίσης, έγιναν εκτιμήσεις σχετικά με τον ρυθμό ροής του CO2. Τα αποτελέσματα της προσομοίωσης δείχνουν ότι αρκεί ένα διάστημα 10 ημερών από την έναρξη της διαρροής πετρελαίου μέχρι να αρχίσουν να επηρεάζονται οι προστατευόμενες περιοχές "Natura". Τα αποτελέσματα της προσομοίωσης δείχνουν το CO2 που έχει διαρρεύσει να ρέει αρχικά κατά μήκος της επικρατούσας κατεύθυνσης ροής, η οποία είναι προς τα ΒΑ. Εντούτοις, 5 ημέρες μετά την έναρξη της διαρροής του CO2, αυτό ρέει επίσης και προς τα ΑΒΑ. Οι συνέπειες μιας ενδεχόμενης διαρροής CO2 θεωρούνται χωρικά περιορισμένες και το οικοσύστημα είναι ικανό από μόνο του να επανέλθει στην πρωταρχική του κατάσταση.Geological storage of CO2 in geological structures in the subsurface can mitigate global warming. A safe storage of CO2 can be ensured through the development of comprehensive monitoring programs that prevent any possible leakage of CO2. This paper presents various monitoring strategies of CO2 subsurface movement in the Prinos reservoir, northern Greece, the results of a simulation of a CO2 leak through a well, and an environmental risk assessment study related to the leakage of CO2 or oil from the seafloor. After only 13.7 years, from the beginning of injection, the CO2 leak reaches the seabed in the form of gas. For the assessment we set up a model, using ArcGIS software, based on the use of data regarding the speeds of the winds and currents encountered in the region. Assumptions were also made related to the flow rate of CO2. Modeling results show that it only takes a period of 10 days from the start of oil leakage until the “Natura” protected areas start to be affected. CO2 leakage modelling results show CO2 to be initially flowing along a preferential flow direction, which is towards NE. However, 5 days after the start of leakage of CO2, it is also flowing towards ENE. The consequences of a potential CO2 leak are considered spatially limited and the ecosystem is capable of recovering by itself

Ubiquitin-dependent chloroplast-associated protein degradation in plants

Introduction Chloroplasts are plant organelles responsible for the bulk of terrestrial photosynthetic primary production. They evolved via endosymbiosis from a cyanobacterial organism more than a billion years ago. The biogenesis and operation of chloroplasts depends on the assembly and homeostasis of thousands of nucleus-encoded proteins, which together constitute a large part of the organellar proteome. These proteins are imported by multiprotein translocases in each of the chloroplast envelope membranes after translation in the cytosol. Chloroplast proteins are subject to proteolytic regulation, which plays vital roles in maintaining normal organellar functions and in delivering responses to developmental and environmental cues. Turnover of internal chloroplast proteins is controlled by proteases inherited from the organelle’s prokaryotic ancestor, but mechanisms underlying the degradation of chloroplast outer envelope membrane (OEM) proteins are poorly defined. Rationale We previously showed that components of the protein import translocases in the OEM (so-called TOC proteins) are ubiquitinated by the OEM-localized ubiquitin E3 ligase SP1 and subsequently degraded by the cytosolic 26S proteasome. Inherent in this process is a need to extricate the target proteins from the chloroplast membrane (they are integral membrane proteins), and to achieve this there must exist mechanisms to overcome the physical and thermodynamic barriers to extraction. This implies that additional factors are involved in OEM protein degradation, and we sought to identify these by applying forward genetics and proteomic analysis in the plant Arabidopsis. Results We identified two factors required for the degradation of chloroplast OEM proteins: SP2 and CDC48. The former is an Omp85-type β-barrel channel of prokaryotic origin located in the OEM, and the latter is a conserved eukaryotic AAA+ chaperone located in the cytosol. We observed that inactivation of either component triggers the selective overaccumulation of target proteins, specifically at the chloroplast envelope. We used genetic analyses to demonstrate that SP2 and CDC48 act together in the same proteolytic pathway as the SP1 E3 ligase and physical interaction studies to show that the three components can form a complex at the surface of the chloroplast. Furthermore, by applying complementary in vivo and in vitro assays, we demonstrated that the SP2 and CDC48 proteins cooperate to bring about the extraction (“retrotranslocation”) of ubiquitinated proteins from the OEM. Overall, the data are consistent with a model (see the figure) in which SP2 and CDC48 fulfil conductance and motor functions, respectively, in the retrotranslocation of OEM proteins ubiquitinated by SP1 to enable their proteasomal degradation in the cytosol. These results extend the range of known functions of Omp85 superfamily proteins (which heretofore included bacterial protein secretion, membrane protein biogenesis, and organelle protein import) and of CDC48 (which has a well-characterized role in endoplasmic reticulum–associated protein degradation). The broader importance of this proteolytic mechanism was demonstrated by physiological analyses of plants with altered SP2 activity, which revealed defects in organellar functions, plant development, and viability. Conclusion Collectively, our results describe a multicomponent system for chloroplast envelope protein removal, dependent on the cytosolic ubiquitin-proteasome system, which is critically important for plant growth. A key part of the system is a protein retrotranslocation mechanism of chimeric prokaryotic-eukaryotic ancestry that operates at the surface of the organelle. We refer to this proteolytic system as chloroplast-associated protein degradation, or CHLORAD

The contributions of muscarinic receptors and changes in plasma aldosterone levels to the anti-hypertensive effect of Tulbaghia violacea

Background: Tulbaghia violacea Harv. (Alliaceae) is used to treat various ailments, including hypertension (HTN) in South Africa. This study aims to evaluate the contributions of muscarinic receptors and changes in plasma aldosterone levels to its anti-hypertensive effect. Methods: In the acute experiments, methanol leaf extracts (MLE) of T. violacea (30–120 mg/kg), muscarine (0.16 -10 μg/kg), and atropine (0.02 - 20.48 mg/kg), and/or the vehicle (dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and normal saline (NS)) were respectively and randomly administered intravenously in a group of spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) weighing 300 to 350 g and aged less than 5 months. Subsequently, T. violacea (60 mg/kg) or muscarine (2.5 μg/kg) was infused into eight SHRs, 20 min after atropine (5.12 mg/kg) pre-treatment. In the chronic (21 days) experiments, the SHRs were randomly divided into three groups, and given the vehicle (0.2 ml/day of DMSO and NS), T. violacea (60 mg/kg/day) and captopril (10 mg/kg/day) respectively into the peritoneum, to investigate their effects on blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and plasma aldosterone levels. Systolic BP and HR were measured using tail-cuff plethysmography during the intervention. BP and HR were measured via a pressure transducer connecting the femoral artery and the Powerlab at the end of each intervention in the acute experiment; and on day 22 in the chronic experiment. Results: In the acute experiments, T. violacea, muscarine, and atropine significantly (p < 0.05) reduced BP dose-dependently. T. violacea and muscarine produced dose-dependent decreases in HR, while the effect of atropine on HR varied. After atropine pre-treatment, dose-dependent increases in BP and HR were observed with T. violacea; while the BP and HR effects of muscarine were nullified. In the chronic experiments, the T. violaceatreated and captropril-treated groups had signicantly lower levels of aldosterone in plasma when compared to vehicle-treated group. Compared to the vehicle-treated group, significant reduction in BP was only seen in the captopril-treated group; while no difference in HR was observed among the groups. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study suggest that stimulation of the muscarinic receptors and a reduction in plasma aldosterone levels contribute to the anti-hypertesive effect of T. violacea.IS

Consumer–brand identification revisited: An integrative framework of brand identification, customer satisfaction, and price image and their role for brand loyalty and word of mouth

Consumer–brand identification has received considerable attraction among scholars and practitioners in recent years. We contribute to previous research by proposing an integrative model that includes consumer–brand identification, customer satisfaction, and price image to investigate the interrelationships among these constructs as well as their effects on brand loyalty and positive word of mouth. To provide general results, we empirically test the model using a sample of 1443 respondents from a representative consumer panel and 10 service/product brands. The results demonstrate that identification, satisfaction, and price image significantly influence both loyalty and word of mouth. Moreover, we find significant interrelationships among the constructs: Identification positively influences both satisfaction and price image, which also increases satisfaction. By disclosing the relative importance of three separate ways of gaining and retaining customers, this study helps managers more appropriately choose the right mix of branding, pricing, and relationship marketing. From an academic point of view, our research is the first to explicitly examine the effects of the concept of identification for price management and to integrate variables from the fields of branding, relationship marketing, and behavioral pricing, which have separately been identified as particularly important determinants of marketing outcomes

On farm Veterinary Management - Biosecurity measures for the production of high hygienic quality pork meat

Η ελληνική χοιροτροφία στις αρχές του 21ου αιώνα καλείται να αντιμετωπίσει νέες προκλήσεις. Η σημερινή δυσχερής θέση στην οποία έχει περιέλθει οφείλεται στην έλλειψη προγραμματισμού και στόχων, ως συνέπεια της λήψης λανθασμένων αποφάσεων από όλους σχεδόν τους εμπλεκόμενους φορείς. Παράλληλα, οι απαιτήσεις του συγχρόνου καταναλωτή για άριστης υγειονομικά ποιότητας χοίρειο κρέας και οι ιδιαίτερα ανταγωνιστικές συνθήκες της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, καθιστούν αναγκαία τη λήψη μέτρων για την επιβίωση της ελληνικής χοιροτροφίας. Εκείνο που απαιτείται είναι η εφαρμογή νομοθετικά κατοχυρωμένου προγράμματος κτηνιατρικής διαχείρισης στις ελληνικές χοιροτροφικές εκμεταλλεύσεις, συμφωνά με τις οδηγίες του υπευθύνου κτηνιάτρου της εκτροφής. Για την ορθή λειτουργία του προγράμματος είναι απαραίτητη η τήρηση των κανόνων κτηνιατρικής προστασίας βιοασφάλειας και η εφαρμογή συστημάτων συμβατών με τοHACCP σε επίπεδο εκτροφής. Έτσι θα υπάρξει η δυνατότητα παραγωγής χοίρων σφαγής υψηλού επιπέδου υγείας. Το πρόγραμμα κτηνιατρικής διαχείρισης θα συμβάλει καθοριστικά και σε συνεργασία με τους περαιτέρω υπευθύνους φορείς (υγιεινολόγοι κτηνίατροι,κρεοσκόποι κτηνίατροι κ.λπ.), στην παραγωγή υψηλής ποιότητας υγειονομικά πιστοποιημένου χοίρειου κρέατος, το οποίο αποδεδειγμένα προτιμά ο Έλληνας και κάθε Ευρωπαίος καταναλωτής. Παράλληλα, η εφαρμογή ενός τέτοιου προγράμματος στις ελληνικές χοιροτροφικές εκμεταλλεύσεις θα οδηγήσει στη βελτίωση της ανταγωνιστικότητας και της παραγωγικότητας της ελληνικής χοιροτροφίας παράλληλα με την προστασία της δημόσιας υγείας και του περιβάλλοντος. Εάν ληφθούν όλα τα απαραίτητα μέτρα από τους υπευθύνους φορείς, θα υπάρξει τελικά δυνατότητα επιβίωσης για την ελληνική χοιροτροφία συμφωνά με τα σημερινά δεδομένα.Έτσι θα καλυφθούν οι ανάγκες του καταναλωτή για υψηλής ποιότητας υγειονομικά πιστοποιημένο χοίρειο κρέας με την εφαρμογήόλων των απαραίτητων μέτρων που θα προστατεύουν την παραγωγική διαδικασία από το «στάβλο έως το πιάτο».At the beginning of the 21st century the greek pig industry has to face new challenges. Its frustrating position today is the result of lack of programming and clear targets, as a consequence of false decisions by almost all implicated authorities. Moreover, modern consumer's demand for high quality hygienically certified pork meat and the extremely competitive environment of the European Union necessitate the uptake of measures for the survival of the greek pig industry. It is essential to implement a legislatively consolidated on farm veterinary management programme in all greek industrial pig farms under full supervision and responsibility of the authorized veterinarian of every farm. As support to this programme, it is also important to follow the rules of a veterinary protection-biosecurity programme and to use an on farm HACCP compatible system. In this way it will be possible to produce high health status slaughter pigs. The on farm veterinary management programme will significantly contribute, in coordination with all the other responsible authorities (meat inspectors, public health veterinarians etc.), to the production of high quality hygienically certified pork meat, which is mostly preferred by Greek and European consumers. Furthermore, the implementation of an on farm veterinary management programme in all greek industrial pig farms will extensively assist to the improvement of the greek pig industry's competitiveness and productivity, the protection of public health and of the environment. If all responsible authorities take the appropriate actions, there will be an opportunity for the greek pig industry to survive under the current conditions. Finally, the consumer will see his demands for high quality hygienically certified pork meat to fulfilled after the application of all appropriate measures that will secure the production procedures of pork meat from «the stable to the table»

Power-to-Hydrogen and Hydrogen-to-X pathways: opportunities for next generation energy systems

Energy systems are evolving rapidly around the world, driven mainly by CO2-e reduction targets. This has led to opportunities for integrated low carbon electricity-and-fuel systems founded on large scale “Power-to-Hydrogen, Hydrogen-to-X” (PtH-HtX). Power-to-Hydrogen (PtH) refers to large scale electrolysis. Hydrogen-to-X (HtX) refers to a range of high value products and services. If these pathways start with low-carbon electricity, then the fuel consumed at the downstream end also low-carbon. Use of intermittently low valued power lowers all production costs. This paper specifically identifies the main pathways and interconnections in a way that overcomes the ambiguities inherent in the term “Power-to-Gas”. In turn, this provides solid and easier to understand foundations for building legal and regulatory frameworks for new business opportunities along the lengths of the numerous pathways from supply to consumption.<br/

Evolution and Phylogenetic Analysis of Full-Length VP3 Genes of Eastern Mediterranean Bluetongue Virus Isolates

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is the ‘type’ species of the genus Orbivirus within the family Reoviridae. The BTV genome is composed of ten linear segments of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), each of which codes for one of ten distinct viral proteins. Previous phylogenetic comparisons have evaluated variations in genome segment 3 (Seg-3) nucleotide sequence as way to identify the geographical origin (different topotypes) of BTV isolates. The full-length nucleotide sequence of genome Seg-3 was determined for thirty BTV isolates recovered in the eastern Mediterranean region, the Balkans and other geographic areas (Spain, India, Malaysia and Africa). These data were compared, based on molecular variability, positive-selection-analysis and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic reconstructions (using appropriate substitution models) to 24 previously published sequences, revealing their evolutionary relationships. These analyses indicate that negative selection is a major force in the evolution of BTV, restricting nucleotide variability, reducing the evolutionary rate of Seg-3 and potentially of other regions of the BTV genome. Phylogenetic analysis of the BTV-4 strains isolated over a relatively long time interval (1979–2000), in a single geographic area (Greece), showed a low level of nucleotide diversity, indicating that the virus can circulate almost unchanged for many years. These analyses also show that the recent incursions into south-eastern Europe were caused by BTV strains belonging to two different major-lineages: representing an ‘eastern’ (BTV-9, -16 and -1) and a ‘western’ (BTV-4) group/topotype. Epidemiological and phylogenetic analyses indicate that these viruses originated from a geographic area to the east and southeast of Greece (including Cyprus and the Middle East), which appears to represent an important ecological niche for the virus that is likely to represent a continuing source of future BTV incursions into Europe

Meta Modeling for Business Process Improvement

Conducting business process improvement (BPI) initiatives is a topic of high priority for today’s companies. However, performing BPI projects has become challenging. This is due to rapidly changing customer requirements and an increase of inter-organizational business processes, which need to be considered from an end-to-end perspective. In addition, traditional BPI approaches are more and more perceived as overly complex and too resource-consuming in practice. Against this background, the paper proposes a BPI roadmap, which is an approach for systematically performing BPI projects and serves practitioners’ needs for manageable BPI methods. Based on this BPI roadmap, a domain-specific conceptual modeling method (DSMM) has been developed. The DSMM supports the efficient documentation and communication of the results that emerge during the application of the roadmap. Thus, conceptual modeling acts as a means for purposefully codifying the outcomes of a BPI project. Furthermore, a corresponding software prototype has been implemented using a meta modeling platform to assess the technical feasibility of the approach. Finally, the usability of the prototype has been empirically evaluated